Schools
Parent Group Becomes Part of the 'Conversation'
The 'Parent Partnership' is part of the district's new anti-substance abuse program.
More than a dozen parents came out to ’s first meeting at the Thursday evening.
The meetings are part of the district’s program that started earlier this year. The goal of the program is to raise awareness about drug and alcohol abuse in the Hatboro and Horsham communities.
“Our goal here is to raise awareness and educate parents,” said Kim Rubenstein, who is the parent liaison for the group. “Supportive families are the key to getting someone ahead of abuse.”
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The Parent Partnership group won’t just tackle the issue of drug and alcohol abuse. “We are going to discuss other risky behaviors, like 'sexting,' ” Rubenstein said.
Discussions that occur during the twice monthly meetings will remain confidential, according Rubenstein.
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Guest speakers from the community and other resources will be featured at the meetings from time to time, but the main focus will remain on parents discussing concerns about their children and working toward solutions, organizers said.
The first meeting was led by Rubenstein, who has two children in the school district, and Heather Gregan, a counselor from Rehab After School, an outpatient treatment center that provides consulting services to Hatboro-Horsham students.
Rubenstein and Gregan both say the group will focus on parents helping parents and they are only there to facilitate discussion rather than offer professional advice.
“This program is really great. It gives parents a safe place to share their concerns,” said Gregan.
Rubenstein praised the district’s recently "Be a Part of the Conversation" anti-substance abuse program, which features community events and a Web site packed with plenty of resources for parents and students who are dealing with drug and alcohol abuse.
Rubenstein said, the Parent Partnership will hold meetings regularly “hopefully for a long time to come.” The group meets on the first and third Thursday of every month at the Horsham Library.
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For more information visit: http://www.hatboro-horsham.org/conversation
